Tom Smith被叫到部門經(jīng)理Paul Chen的辦公室。
Tom: Good morning, Paul. How are you?
P: I'm well, thanks. Take a seat. This is Sue Krammer from the head office.
T: Hi, Sue.
S: Hi.
P: Tom, there's no easy way to say this so I'm just going to say it. We are letting you go.
Paul開門見山,告訴Tom公司決定解雇他。在這種情況下,要說We are letting you go, 不能說you're fired。
T: Go where?
P: Um...we mean we are terminating your employment here.
T: You mean you're firing me?
P: Um...yes.
T: Wow! Mind telling me why?
P: We've warned you about some of your unacceptable behaviors several times now. Also, we feel you are underperforming or not up to the standards we demand here.
T: (Belligerent) Really? How so?
Tom顯得很意外,氣憤地質問道,Mind telling me why? 能告訴我為什么嗎?Paul解釋說,公司覺得you are underperforming。 Underperform, 意思是工作表現(xiàn)不佳,not up to the standards不符合要求。Tom 很不客氣地讓 Paul 舉例,這時候 Sue 說話了。
S: If I might interject, here. Tom, your file says that last month you called up a client and chewed him out...without authorization. Tom, that is simply unacceptable.
P: You are frequently late and we've received more than a few complaints about your abrasive style with co-workers.
T: All right...but I have good explanations for all of that. You see......
S: I don't want to interrupt, Tom, but it's important that you understand that this decision comes down from the top. Paul and I are just the messengers. It would be best if you understood that this decision is final.
Tom上個月在電話里chewed a client out,痛罵客戶。 Chew someone out,是嚴厲責罵的意思。此外,他上班還經(jīng)常遲到,對同事態(tài)度粗魯,he has an abrasive style with co-workers. Tom想爭辯, Sue果斷地說,這是上頭的決定,the decision comes down from the top, and the decision is final,是不可改變的。
T: So I'm fired and that's that?
P: Yes, you are being let go. But we would be happy to help you in any way we can.
S: If you need a general reference letter we can provide one, but if they call and ask if you were fired we will have to tell the truth. That's the law.
P: We can offer a six week severance package if you accept your termination.
T: Fine. I'll pack up my stuff and be out of here by Wednesday.
S: Thanks for understanding, Tom. We wish you well.
P: Yeah. Please do email me if you have further questions.
Tom無可奈何地問,so I'm fired and that's that? 我就這么被開除了?回答當然是肯定的。公司愿意給他寫例行推薦信,但如果用人單位打電話了解情況,公司也不能隱瞞他被解雇的事實。Tom同意在解聘書上簽字,收拾東西走人pack up and be out of here。